2024
A phase II study of guadecitabine combined with irinotecan vs regorafenib or TAS‐102 in irinotecan‐refractory metastatic colorectal cancer patients
Lee V, Parkinson R, Zahurak M, Cope L, Cercek A, Verheul H, Gootjes E, Lenz H, Iqbal S, Jones P, Baylin S, Rami V, Ahuja N, Khoueiry A, Azad N. A phase II study of guadecitabine combined with irinotecan vs regorafenib or TAS‐102 in irinotecan‐refractory metastatic colorectal cancer patients. International Journal Of Cancer 2024, 154: 1794-1801. PMID: 38312102, DOI: 10.1002/ijc.34845.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRefractory to irinotecanArm ATAS-102DNA methyltransferase inhibitorArm BRates of progression free survivalB. Median overall survivalEvidence of target modulationMetastatic colorectal cancer patientsResistant to systemic therapyTreatment related adverse eventsProgression free survivalPhase II studyPhase II trialKaplan-Meier ratesRelated adverse eventsColorectal cancer patientsFree survivalOverall survivalSystemic therapyAdverse eventsIrinotecanRegorafenibCancer patientsGuadecitabine
2023
A study of using epigenetic modulators to enhance response to pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in microsatellite stable advanced colorectal cancer
Baretti M, Murphy A, Zahurak M, Gianino N, Parkinson R, Walker R, Lopez-Vidal T, Zheng L, Rosner G, Ahuja N, Kurt S, Azad N. A study of using epigenetic modulators to enhance response to pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in microsatellite stable advanced colorectal cancer. Clinical Epigenetics 2023, 15: 74. PMID: 37120591, PMCID: PMC10149019, DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01485-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsColorectal cancer patientsAdvanced colorectal cancer patientsImmune checkpoint inhibitor therapyMedian progression-free survivalDurable partial responseHematological adverse eventsMMR-proficient tumorsCheckpoint inhibitor therapyAdvanced colorectal cancerProgression-free survivalImmune cell infiltrationHistone deacetylasesImmunologic shiftCheckpoint inhibitorsRECIST criteriaAdverse eventsCheckpoint therapyOverall survivalPartial responseInhibitor therapyMedian ageColorectal cancerFurther mechanistic investigationsCancer patientsCell infiltration
2022
Bile acid distributions, sex-specificity, and prognosis in colorectal cancer
Cai Y, Shen X, Lu L, Yan H, Huang H, Gaule P, Muca E, Theriot CM, Rattray Z, Rattray NJW, Lu J, Ahuja N, Zhang Y, Paty PB, Khan SA, Johnson CH. Bile acid distributions, sex-specificity, and prognosis in colorectal cancer. Biology Of Sex Differences 2022, 13: 61. PMID: 36274154, PMCID: PMC9590160, DOI: 10.1186/s13293-022-00473-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLeft-sided colon tumorsRight-sided colon tumorsColon cancer patientsColorectal cancerTumor locationBile acidsColon tumorsCancer patientsQuantitative immunofluorescencePrimary tumor locationImmune regulatory cellsRecurrence-free survivalBile acid metabolismSecondary bile acidsBile acid distributionBile acid analysisBackgroundBile acidsOverall survivalRegulatory cellsCRC patientsMale patientsPatient sexImmune cellsPatient prognosisImmune response
2020
Association of Treatment Inequity and Ancestry With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Survival
Heller DR, Nicolson NG, Ahuja N, Khan S, Kunstman JW. Association of Treatment Inequity and Ancestry With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Survival. JAMA Surgery 2020, 155: e195047. PMID: 31800002, PMCID: PMC6902102, DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2019.5047.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPancreatic ductal adenocarcinomaNational Cancer DatabaseWhite patientsBlack patientsAdvanced diseaseOverall survivalClinical parametersDisease stageCancer DatabaseSurgical proceduresMultivariable Cox proportional hazards regression modelingTreatment inequitiesCox proportional hazards regression modelingPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) survivalUnadjusted median overall survivalYounger ageProportional hazards regression modelingMedian overall survivalModest survival advantageStage II diseaseNew cancer diagnosesLess chemotherapyResectable cancerCohort studyPrimary outcome
2018
Comparing the long‐term outcomes among patients with stomach and small intestine gastrointestinal stromal tumors: An analysis of the National Cancer Database
Giuliano K, Ejaz A, Reames BN, Choi W, Sham J, Gage M, Johnston FM, Ahuja N. Comparing the long‐term outcomes among patients with stomach and small intestine gastrointestinal stromal tumors: An analysis of the National Cancer Database. Journal Of Surgical Oncology 2018, 118: 486-492. PMID: 30129672, DOI: 10.1002/jso.25172.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSmall intestine gastrointestinal stromal tumorGastrointestinal stromal tumorsNational Cancer DatabaseOverall survivalStromal tumorsTumor locationCancer DatabaseLarger median tumor sizeStomach gastrointestinal stromal tumorUnadjusted median overall survivalCox proportional hazards modelNational Oncology DatabaseMedian overall survivalMedian tumor sizeWorse prognostic featuresKaplan-Meier methodLong-term prognosisTumor-related factorsLong-term outcomesCases of stomachProportional hazards modelCommon sarcomaTotal patientsPrognostic featuresOncology databaseResection of retroperitoneal sarcoma en‐bloc with inferior vena cava: 20 year outcomes of a single institution
Blair AB, Reames BN, Singh J, Gani F, Overton HN, Beaulieu RJ, Lum YW, Black JH, Johnston FM, Ahuja N. Resection of retroperitoneal sarcoma en‐bloc with inferior vena cava: 20 year outcomes of a single institution. Journal Of Surgical Oncology 2018, 118: 127-137. PMID: 29878363, PMCID: PMC6220674, DOI: 10.1002/jso.25096.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMinimally Invasive Versus Open Primary Resection for Retroperitoneal Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Propensity-Matched Study From the National Cancer Database
Gani F, Goel U, Blair AB, Singh J, Overton HN, Meyer CF, Canner JK, Pawlik TM, Ahuja N, Johnston FM. Minimally Invasive Versus Open Primary Resection for Retroperitoneal Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Propensity-Matched Study From the National Cancer Database. Annals Of Surgical Oncology 2018, 25: 2209-2217. PMID: 29855832, PMCID: PMC8383095, DOI: 10.1245/s10434-018-6538-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRetroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomaNational Cancer DatabaseSoft tissue sarcomasUse of MISPostoperative mortalityPrimary resectionOverall survivalClinical outcomesTissue sarcomasCancer DatabaseCox proportional hazards modelShorter hospital lengthProportional hazards modelHospital lengthInvasive VersusMultivariable logisticPelvic cancerShorter LOSOpen surgeryOperative approachCommunity hospitalInclusion criteriaSmall tumorsTreatment groupsHazards modelExtraskeletal versus Skeletal Ewing Sarcoma in the adult population: Controversies in care
Lynch AD, Gani F, Meyer CF, Morris CD, Ahuja N, Johnston FM. Extraskeletal versus Skeletal Ewing Sarcoma in the adult population: Controversies in care. Surgical Oncology 2018, 27: 373-379. PMID: 30217290, DOI: 10.1016/j.suronc.2018.05.016.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsExtraskeletal Ewing's sarcomaCharlson-Deyo scoreOverall survivalTriple therapyCombination therapyLocal therapyEwing's sarcomaProportional hazards regression analysisHazards regression analysisSkeletal Ewing sarcomaEwing's sarcoma patientsAdult patientsIndependent predictorsEE patientsSarcoma patientsRisk factorsTreatment characteristicsSmall tumorsOutcome differencesPatientsTherapyAdult populationLack of consensusChemotherapyRegression analysis
2017
Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio is a Predictive Marker for Invasive Malignancy in Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms of the Pancreas
Gemenetzis G, Bagante F, Griffin JF, Rezaee N, Javed AA, Manos LL, Lennon AM, Wood LD, Hruban RH, Zheng L, Zaheer A, Fishman EK, Ahuja N, Cameron JL, Weiss MJ, He J, Wolfgang CL. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio is a Predictive Marker for Invasive Malignancy in Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms of the Pancreas. Annals Of Surgery 2017, 266: 339-345. PMID: 27631774, DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000001988.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIntraductal papillary mucinous neoplasmPapillary mucinous neoplasmInvasive carcinomaPredictive nomogramLymphocyte ratioMucinous neoplasmsInvasive malignancyPredictive markerMain pancreatic duct dilatationEnhanced solid componentLymphocyte ratio valuesIndependent predictive markerFurther prospective studiesPancreatic duct dilatationInflammatory markersSurgical resectionDuct dilatationNLR valuesOverall survivalProspective studyPancreatic cancerC-indexCarcinomaMultivariate analysisPatientsHigh dose-rate Intra-Operative Radiation Therapy During High Risk Genitourinary Surgery: Initial Observations and a Proposal for its Study in Bladder Cancer
Kates M, Chappidi MR, Brant A, Milbar N, Sopko NA, Meyer C, Terezakis SA, Herman JM, Efron JE, Safar B, Tran PT, Ahuja N, Pierorazio PM, Bivalacqua TJ. High dose-rate Intra-Operative Radiation Therapy During High Risk Genitourinary Surgery: Initial Observations and a Proposal for its Study in Bladder Cancer. Bladder Cancer 2017, 3: 191-199. PMID: 28824947, PMCID: PMC5545919, DOI: 10.3233/blc-170104.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSurgical margin statusBladder cancerGenitourinary surgeryMargin statusInstitutional experienceIntra-operative radiation therapyRadiation therapyHigh-risk bladder cancerPositive surgical margin statusMulti-institutional registryRecurrence-free survivalEffective local controlGI complicationsSarcomatoid histologyAdvanced diseaseFree survivalComplication rateOverall survivalPrimary outcomeRetrospective reviewSuch patientsRecurrent tumorsUrothelial cancerWound infectionUrothelial histologyLong‐term survival benefit of upfront chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed borderline resectable pancreatic cancer
Shrestha B, Sun Y, Faisal F, Kim V, Soares K, Blair A, Herman JM, Narang A, Dholakia AS, Rosati L, Hacker‐Prietz A, Chen L, Laheru DA, De Jesus‐Acosta A, Le DT, Donehower R, Azad N, Diaz LA, Murphy A, Lee V, Fishman EK, Hruban RH, Liang T, Cameron JL, Makary M, Weiss MJ, Ahuja N, He J, Wolfgang CL, Huang C, Zheng L. Long‐term survival benefit of upfront chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed borderline resectable pancreatic cancer. Cancer Medicine 2017, 6: 1552-1562. PMID: 28639410, PMCID: PMC5504321, DOI: 10.1002/cam4.1104.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMedian overall survivalUpfront chemotherapyNeoadjuvant chemotherapyNeoadjuvant therapySurgical resectionOverall survivalUpfront chemoradiationBorderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinomaLong-term survival benefitBorderline resectable pancreatic cancerCurative surgical resectionResectable pancreatic cancerUpfront neoadjuvant chemotherapyResectable pancreatic adenocarcinomaSubpopulation of patientsJohns Hopkins HospitalLong-term survivalCurative intentNeoadjuvant chemoradiationConsecutive patientsSurvival benefitPancreatic cancerPancreatic adenocarcinomaRetrospective analysisChemoradiationCombination epigenetic therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with subcutaneous 5-azacitidine and entinostat; a phase 2 consortium/stand Up 2 cancer study
Azad NS, el-Khoueiry A, Yin J, Oberg AL, Flynn P, Adkins D, Sharma A, Weisenberger DJ, Brown T, Medvari P, Jones PA, Easwaran H, Kamel I, Bahary N, Kim G, Picus J, Pitot HC, Erlichman C, Donehower R, Shen H, Laird PW, Piekarz R, Baylin S, Ahuja N. Combination epigenetic therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with subcutaneous 5-azacitidine and entinostat; a phase 2 consortium/stand Up 2 cancer study. Oncotarget 2017, 5: 35326-35338. PMID: 28186961, PMCID: PMC5471058, DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15108.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCombination epigenetic therapyMetastatic colorectal cancerRECIST responseCRC patientsMedian progression-free survivalCycles of therapySignificant clinical activityMetastatic CRC patientsProgression-free survivalSubset of patientsM2 days 1Serial tumor biopsiesMulti-institutional studyHistone deacetylase inhibitor entinostatEpigenetic therapyColorectal cell linesSubcutaneous azacitidinePrimary endpointPrior therapyLiver involvementOverall survivalTolerable therapySerial biopsiesColorectal cancerClinical activity
2016
Tumors with unmethylated MLH1 and the CpG island methylator phenotype are associated with a poor prognosis in stage II colorectal cancer patients
Fu T, Liu Y, Li K, Wan W, Pappou EP, Iacobuzio-Donahue CA, Kerner Z, Baylin SB, Wolfgang CL, Ahuja N. Tumors with unmethylated MLH1 and the CpG island methylator phenotype are associated with a poor prognosis in stage II colorectal cancer patients. Oncotarget 2016, 5: 86480-86489. PMID: 27880934, PMCID: PMC5349928, DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.13441.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDisease-free survivalStage II colorectal cancer patientsStage II CRC patientsCpG island methylator phenotypeMLH1 methylation statusColorectal cancer patientsOverall survivalLymphovascular invasionCRC patientsCancer patientsMucin productionMethylator phenotypeKaplan-Meier analysisPoor clinical outcomeMethylation statusDuodenal adenocarcinomaClinical outcomesAggressive featuresPoor prognosisPrognostic valuePatient subgroupsTumor locationMultivariate analysisPatientsM groupMethylation of MGMT Is Associated with Poor Prognosis in Patients with Stage III Duodenal Adenocarcinoma
Fu T, Sharmab A, Xie F, Liu Y, Li K, Wan W, Baylin SB, Wolfgang CL, Ahuja N. Methylation of MGMT Is Associated with Poor Prognosis in Patients with Stage III Duodenal Adenocarcinoma. PLOS ONE 2016, 11: e0162929. PMID: 27643594, PMCID: PMC5028050, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162929.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDisease-free survivalCpG island methylator phenotypeDuodenal adenocarcinomaOverall survivalMethylation of MGMTMGMT methylationMicrosatellite instabilityPoor prognosisKRAS mutationsCox proportional hazards modelMGMT unmethylated groupTumor molecular featuresChemotherapy/radiotherapyIndependent prognostic factorO6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase methylation statusWorse overall survivalPossible prognostic valueProportional hazards modelMGMT methylation statusPrognostic factorsClinicopathological characteristicsTumor characteristicsMethylation statusPrognostic valueTumor differentiationPatterns of PD-L1 expression and CD8 T cell infiltration in gastric adenocarcinomas and associated immune stroma
Thompson ED, Zahurak M, Murphy A, Cornish T, Cuka N, Abdelfatah E, Yang S, Duncan M, Ahuja N, Taube JM, Anders RA, Kelly RJ. Patterns of PD-L1 expression and CD8 T cell infiltration in gastric adenocarcinomas and associated immune stroma. Gut 2016, 66: 794. PMID: 26801886, PMCID: PMC4958028, DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2015-310839.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPD-L1 expressionProgression-free survivalEpstein-Barr virusT-cell densityImmune stromaOverall survivalPD-L1T cellsAdaptive immune resistance mechanismHigh PD-L1 expressionMembranous PD-L1 expressionStromal PD-L1 expressionCD8 T cell infiltrationWorse progression-free survivalImmune resistance mechanismsImmune checkpoint inhibitorsPD-L1 positivityPD-L1 statusGastro-oesophageal junctionImmune-based therapiesT cell infiltrationPercentage of tumorsTumor-stromal interfaceCD8 densityCD8 infiltration
2015
Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) with high-grade dysplasia is a risk factor for the subsequent development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Rezaee N, Barbon C, Zaki A, He J, Salman B, Hruban RH, Cameron JL, Herman JM, Ahuja N, Lennon AM, Weiss MJ, Wood LD, Wolfgang CL. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) with high-grade dysplasia is a risk factor for the subsequent development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Hepato Pancreato Biliary 2015, 18: 236-246. PMID: 27017163, PMCID: PMC4814593, DOI: 10.1016/j.hpb.2015.10.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAgedCarcinoma, Pancreatic DuctalDatabases, FactualDisease-Free SurvivalFemaleHumansKaplan-Meier EstimateLymphatic MetastasisMaleMiddle AgedNeoplasm GradingNeoplasm InvasivenessNeoplasms, Cystic, Mucinous, and SerousNeoplasms, Second PrimaryPancreatectomyPancreatic NeoplasmsProportional Hazards ModelsRisk AssessmentRisk FactorsTime FactorsTreatment OutcomeConceptsIntraductal papillary mucinous neoplasmHigh-grade dysplasiaPancreatic ductal adenocarcinomaNon-invasive intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasmsIntermediate-grade dysplasiaPapillary mucinous neoplasmRemnant pancreasVascular invasionMucinous neoplasmsDuctal adenocarcinomaInvasive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomaMedian overall survivalLymph node metastasisRate of progressionSubsequent developmentIntermediate dysplasiaPancreatic resectionOverall survivalNode metastasisPerineural invasionMalignant entitiesRisk factorsPatientsDysplasiaPancreasSurvival Following Lung Metastasectomy in Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Giuliano K, Sachs T, Montgomery E, Guzzetta A, Brock M, Pawlik TM, Yang SC, Ahuja N. Survival Following Lung Metastasectomy in Soft Tissue Sarcomas. The Thoracic And Cardiovascular Surgeon 2015, 64: 150-158. PMID: 26339728, DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1563538.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultAge FactorsAgedAged, 80 and overChildChild, PreschoolDisease-Free SurvivalFemaleHumansInfantKaplan-Meier EstimateLung NeoplasmsMaleMetastasectomyMiddle AgedNeoplasm GradingPneumonectomyRetrospective StudiesRisk FactorsSarcomaSoft Tissue NeoplasmsThoracoscopyTime FactorsTreatment OutcomeYoung AdultConceptsDisease-free intervalSoft tissue sarcomasLung metastasectomyTissue sarcomasLonger disease-free intervalLower pathologic gradeMedian overall survivalKaplan-Meier estimatesLog-rank testLow-grade tumorsGreatest survival advantageOverall survivalPostoperative factorsImproved survivalPatient selectionTumor characteristicsPathologic gradeMetastasis diagnosisCommon siteSurvival advantageSurvival analysisYounger ageMetastasectomyPatientsSurvivalMultimodal Therapy in the Treatment of Prostate Sarcoma: The Johns Hopkins Experience
Ball MW, Sundi D, Reese AC, Meyer CF, Terezakis SA, Efron JE, Schoenberg MP, Epstein JI, Ahuja N, Bivalacqua TJ. Multimodal Therapy in the Treatment of Prostate Sarcoma: The Johns Hopkins Experience. Clinical Genitourinary Cancer 2015, 13: 435-440. PMID: 26003268, DOI: 10.1016/j.clgc.2015.04.011.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCancer-specific survivalRecurrence-free survivalProstate sarcomaOverall survivalSurgical resectionLocal recurrenceMedian recurrence-free survivalFavorable cancer-specific survivalCommon presenting symptomRecords of patientsPatient demographic informationJohns Hopkins ExperienceActuarial OSConcurrent chemotherapyCurative intentMedian OSNeoadjuvant chemoradiationNeoadjuvant radiationOncological outcomesPresenting symptomMost patientsRFS ratesUrinary obstructionMetastatic recurrenceTumor characteristics
2014
Association of recurrence patterns following resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma with overall survival.
He J, Rezaee N, Wu W, Cameron J, Ahuja N, Pawlik T, Herman J, Hruban R, Weiss M, Zheng L, Wolfgang C. Association of recurrence patterns following resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma with overall survival. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2014, 32: 4127-4127. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2014.32.15_suppl.4127.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPrognostic value of CpG island methylator phenotype among colorectal cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Juo YY, Johnston FM, Zhang DY, Juo HH, Wang H, Pappou EP, Yu T, Easwaran H, Baylin S, van Engeland M, Ahuja N. Prognostic value of CpG island methylator phenotype among colorectal cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals Of Oncology 2014, 25: 2314-2327. PMID: 24718889, PMCID: PMC4239805, DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdu149.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDisease-free survivalCpG island methylator phenotypeColorectal cancer patientsCRC patientsOverall survivalHazard ratioPredictive factorsPrognostic valueCancer patientsPredictive valuePatient disease-free survivalShorter disease-free survivalCancer-specific mortalityAdditional survival benefitMethylator phenotypeShorter overall survivalMicrosatellite instability statusAdjuvant chemotherapyDFS benefitSurvival benefitWorse prognosisCRC prognosisPooled analysisSubgroup analysisNineteen studies